beryl Summary and Overview

the rendering in the Authorized Version of the Hebrew word "tarshish", a precious stone; probably so called as being brought from Tarshish. It was one of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:20; R.V. marg., "chalcedony;" 39:13). The colour of the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was as the colour of a beryl stone (1:16; 10:9; R.V., "stone of Tarshish"). It is mentioned in Cant. 5:14; Dan. 10:6; Rev. 21:20. In Ezek. 28:13 the LXX. render the word by "chrysolite," which the Jewish historian Josephus regards as its proper translation. This also is the rendering given in the Authorized Version in the margin. That was a gold-coloured gem, the topaz of ancient authors.

(tarshish) occurs in #Ex 28:20| It is generally supposed that the tarshish derives its name from the place so called, in Spain. Beryl is a mineral of great hardness, and, when transparent, of much beauty. By tarshish the modern yellow topaz is probably intended, while in #Re 21:20| a different stone is perhaps referred to, probably the mineral now called beryl, which is identical with the emerald except in color, being a light green or bluish-green.

BER'YL . Ex. 28:20. By the Hebrew word "tarshish " modern yellow topaz is supposed to be meant. This designation seems to indicate the place from which it was brought. Beryl, in the N. T., Rev 21:20, is probably a different stone, and very likely the mineral now so called, which is found in Palestine, but was less abundant and more precious in ancient times than in modern. It is usually of a light-green color and considerably opaque.

The first in the fourth row of precious stones in the high priest's breast-plate (Exodus 28:20; Exodus 39:13), Hebrew tarshish, the tartessus stone, found in Spain. Sea green, pale blue, yellow, and almost white, are its various colors. The color of the cherubic wheels (Ezekiel 1:16; Ezekiel 10:9). In Ezekiel 28:13 it is one of the Tyrian king's treasures, margin: chrysolite. Set in rings of gold (Song of Solomon 5:14); not as Smith's Bible Dictionary, "his wrists are circlets of gold full set with topazes,' but the hands bent in are compared to beautiful rings in which beryl is set, as the nails are in the fingers The body of the man seen in vision (Daniel 10:6) resembled it. In Revelation 21:19-20, the city's eighth foundation, the chrysolite being the seventh. The aquamarine, according to Schleusner.